Diaries, jotters, notebooks – they're all about putting pen to paper, whether note-taking, journaling, or just collecting memories. Specifically, diaries are date and time specific, jotters for kinda casual stuff - notes, ideas, or memories, and notebooks can be for anything – study notes, sketches, poems, drafts etc.
However, here in my region, Nigeria, jotters are a big deal and can serve either as a notebook or a diary, depending on the design. And they're also great souvenir pieces at events like conferences, workshops, seminars, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, funerals, you name it. In fact, they're one of those classic souvenirs you get, alongside other stuff.
Honestly, I've got a pretty cool collection of jotters. Some are souvenirs from events, and others corporate gifts. Some of them even date back to more than a decade. And each one of them serves a purpose - work note, random thoughts, Bible devotions, songwriting, and even tracking expenses.
So I'll be categorizing my jotter collection based on where I got them.
Souvenirs
- From Weddings and Anniversaries.
I use this one for caotu expenses, especially from grocery shopping.
During my parents' Golden Jubilee celebration, we designed and distributed custom jotters as souvenirs to commemorate the special occasion.
And I got this one at my second elder sister's and her husband's wedding anniversary.
- From Birthdays.
During my elder sister's 50th birthday, her husband designed custom jotters as souvenirs to celebrate her day.
Another souvenir from a 50th birthday celebrant, my head of department. It served as my work note, but now kept in the archives. Had to pull it out, plus other ones.
And another one from this cute couple - 60th and 50th birthday. The celebration was so beautiful and everyone had fun.
Other celebrations.
Priestly ordination anniversary.
A custom souvenir designed by my colleague to celebrate his wife's induction into the medical profession.
This one is currently serving as my work note.
Corporate Gifts
- From clients.
I get these jotters every year, and I use them specifically for work notes, Journaling and reading notes.
Once I'm hitting the road with my small handbags, this jotter by the left always find it's way in. Lol. It's portable and comes handy for recording important stuff. It kinda serves as adress book and mini diary.
My company also gets in on the action - they gifted custom jotters to our clients as a token of appreciation. I got one too, and it serves as my work note.
- Event Giveaways.
Got this one at an event organised by MTN NG, one of the network providers we have here. The year should be 2009, almost going to two decades. In it lies some personal quotes and random thoughts.
And this too from a Tech talk event.
And this pretty little address book has been with me like almost for ever - got it the time I first bought a mobile phone. Made of pure leather, and has important numbers and dates stored.
I even found an old note inside. Oh my! I'm rich. Lol.
From weddings to birthdays, these great pieces have become a part of memory, serving as a keepsake to remind me of the moments that matter.
Thanks for being here.
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